Domboshava women get food security training

Rejoice Makoni

Herald Correspondent

Women in Domboshava are benefiting from training in agriculture and food storage as part of the co-operation of the Embassy of United Arab Emirates in Zimbabwe with the University of Zimbabwe.

The embassy held a training workshop in Domboshava on innovative storage methods of grains and using modern methods of growing sweet potatoes.

UAE Ambassador to Zimbabwe Dr Jassim Mohammed al Qassimi said the training workshop was part of UAE’s support for food security in vulnerable communities and strengthening social relations between the embassy and its local environment.

“We are training farmers on modern and innovative methods for growing new types of “hybrid” sweet potatoes that rely on tissue culture, which will lead to enhancing agricultural productivity and continuing its production for long periods, as sweet potatoes are considered one of the most important crops,” he said.

“The faculty of Agriculture, Environment and Food Systems at the University of Zimbabwe will distribute sweet potato seedlings to trainee farmers.

“It is expected that this variety of seedlings will be adopted in sweet potato cultivation in the medium to long term, which will support the spread of sweet potato cultivation based on scientific research throughout Zimbabwe.

“The training programme helps in using appropriate fertilisers and following correct irrigation methods, with training on how to combat insects and pests in safe and natural ways that do not affect health and the environment.”

The ambassador said training farmers on innovative ways of storing grain will help to counter post-harvest lose that affects most farmers.

“Farmers incurred large losses after harvesting major agricultural crops such as maize, wheat, legumes, and sweet potatoes due to poor storage of these crops but I hope that after this training you will have the knowledge to do it right.”

Domboshava was chosen because over the past few years it has been under pressure from the urban sprawl, and as a result the area has witnessed a dramatic deterioration in agricultural production. The unjust cutting of trees and the weakening of agricultural soil have led to a decline in food security.